Fashion Rx: 8 Women Share Their Feel-Good Style Secrets

Confidence Is Key

Danielle Sheypuk, PhD, 36

Psychologist, Model, Writer, Disability Advocate

New York City

Danielle Sheypuk, PhD, was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type II when she was just 2. SMA is a degenerative genetic condition that causes poor muscle tone and weakness. SMA often has the greatest effect on the legs, leaving those affected dependent on a wheelchair. Dr. Sheypuk took to her chair with confidence, becoming the first model to "walk" the runway at New York Fashion Week in a wheelchair.

Besides holding a doctorate in clinical psychology, Sheypuk is also well versed on how to dress: “I follow the same rules in styling my body as everyone else,” she says. “I accentuate the features that I find attractive and play down the parts of my body that I am not that fond of.”

Her Advice for Dressing With Confidence:

Learn to love yourself.“We have all been through the drama – disabled or not – of going into a dressing room, trying on that one piece of clothing and hating the way our bodies look,” Sheypuk says. “I bring this up to encourage people with disabilities to not get frustrated and give up if they find themselves not looking good in certain styles. There are many, many other styles, fits, and cuts that will look good on your body and make you feel amazing.”

Find a good seamstress or tailor.“You might have found this great jacket which fits perfectly except for some bagginess in the shoulders. A seamstress or tailor can easily fix that at a cheap price,” she says.

Modify your favorite styles.For Sheypuk modifying her favorites means finding shoes that work with her wheelchair. “There are many stereotypes that we continue to battle against including the belief that [people in wheelchairs] need to wear orthopedic shoes. This is not true,” she says.